Scranton Students Excel at 2017 IEEE Region 2

Student Activities Conference Rowan University, Glassboro NJ - April 7-9, 2017

Dr. Andrew Berger, IEEE club advisor, Dr. Robert

Spalletta, and Prof. Nicholas Truncale ‘06 at the SAC

Awards Banquet with the University of Scranton student

group who attended the Region 2 SAC.

A few years ago, new strategies were implemented to engage

more students in the IEEE Student Activities Conference and

increase preparation for the individual competitions. The

strategies, based mostly on upon student feedback, were:

University of Scranton Student Government monies

provide some equipment so competition teams can

purchase their robot parts early and have working

prototypes ready before the intersession break

In the Spring semester, every other IEEE seminar

meeting is devoted to a SAC update meeting where

the teams gives status updates on their preparation

Micromouse Kit and Ethics competitors determined

by class competitions in first-year ENGR/PHYS 150

Foundations of Physics and Engineering course

A competition Micromouse maze was built so that

the Micromouse teams practice on an actual maze

Sample brown bag kits were developed from past

SAC competition so students could practice

Peter Kulick ‘19, Bradley Houdesek ‘17, John Bowers ‘18,

and Wilson Ortiz ‘18 compete in the Brown Bag competition.

Twenty-five students from the Department attended and

participated in this year’s 2017 Student Activities Conference.

Scranton was listed in the SAC conference program as the

school bringing the most students from Region 2. IEEE

Region 2 includes Ohio, West Virginia, Pennsylvania,

Maryland, Washington D.C., Delaware, and parts of Kentucky

and New Jersey.

Nicholas Chaump (EE ‘18) took 3rd Place in the paper

presentation competition

Ricky Olechna (EE, ‘17), Matthew Collier (EE, ‘17), Chris

Gasper (EE, ‘17), and Bradley Hodousek (EE, ‘17)

took 2nd Place in the Micromouse Scratch Competition

Griffin Mulvihill (Physics, ‘19), Joshua Toth (Biophysics,

‘20), Joseph Delmar (Biophysics, ‘19) and Ben Loya

(Physics, ‘18) took 2nd Place in the Physics Competition

Tara Hambrose (EE, ‘18) took 2nd Place in the first annual

Women in Engineering (WIE) Teaching Competition

Natalie Krupka (Physics, ‘20), Zackary Walsh (EE, ‘20),

Mark Pawelski (EE, ‘20), and John Radetich (EE, ‘20)

took 1st Place in the Micromouse Kit competition (team

shown below)

Department of Physics and Electrical Engineering 2016-2017 Alumni Newsletter

Page 1

The University of Scranton hosts the 65th Annual American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) – Central

Pennsylvania Section (CPS) Conference Loyola Science Center - April 21-22nd, 2017

A Physics Teachers

Resource Agents (PTRA)

Workshop on Hands-On

Electricity Lessons was

held Friday, April 21st, in

the introductory physics

laboratory. An AAPT

National Bauder Grant

was secured by CPS Section PTRA Leader, Pat Callahan (in

red), who is also the National PTRA Advisory Board

Director. The grant allowed the high school teachers who

attended the workshop to leave with electricity equipment

from the CASTLE Curriculum.

On Friday evening, a banquet dinner was

held in the LSC Atrium and remarks were

given by Professor Emeritus of the

Department of Physics and Electrical

Engineering, Prof. John R. Kalafut ‘60

(left), who was President of AAPT-CPS in

1974. He reflected on how the conference

gave him one of his first opportunities to

present his work. Following the dinner, a

keynote talk was presented by an invited speaker

Dr. Matthew Farrar of Messiah College and was titled:

Seeing Anew: How Advances in Microscopy are Changing

the Life Sciences held in the PNC Auditorium LSC 133.

Saturday included a day full of presentations by faculty and

students from the CPS region. We also tried something new;

we highlighted new equipment and demonstrations from our

department to the conference attendees.

Dr. Declan Mulhall speaking to faculty attendees about

Modern Interferometry equipment specifically about using

Quadrature Detection.

Dr. Robert A. Spalletta demonstrating live Radio Telescope

data to Dr. Matthew Farrar.

Students showcasing Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR)

Equipment during the conference demonstration session in the

Loyola Science Center Atrium.

Department of Physics and Electrical Engineering 2017

Page 2

Highlights from the conference include:

IEEE-HKN Holds Mock Interviews February 16th, 2017

This yearly event helps our students gain interview experience

and have one-on-one time with professionals who are in the

field, who interview engineers on a regular basis. Feedback

was given on students’ interview skills and resumes.

The advisor of IEEE-HKN, Dr. Christine A. Zakzewski, and

the student members thank the following friends and alumni

of the department for participating in the Mock Interviews this

year:

Ed Farrell ‘89

ATCALS & Range Threat Systems Engineering Branch

Tobyhanna Army Depot - Production Engineering

Michael J. Rusinko ‘89

Lead Industrial/Electronics Engineer

Tobyhanna Army Depot - Production Engineering

Jack Rosentel ‘09

Electrical Engineer, Sr.

Lockheed Martin – Missiles and Fire Controls

Carol Strauch ‘01

Mission System Sustainment Senior Program Manager

Lockheed Martin - Rotary and Mission Systems (RMS)

Ted Brunelle

Engineering Coordinator

Reaction Technologies LLC

Michael Coleman ‘97

Senior Manager

Infinera - Line Module Operations

Charles Oleski ‘03

Electronics Engineer

Tobyhanna Army Depot – Production Engineering

2017 Kane Competition April 4th, 2017

This year's theme was Time

Travel. High School students

traveled back in time to

variations of some of our most

successful events culminating

in going Back to the Future to

our newly named "The Hayes

Family Science Competition".

Because of the generosity of

Ed ‘61 and Margaret Hayes,

next year and going forward, the department’s High School

competition is re-named with the Hayes Family also funding

the annual Kane Scholarship to keep the “Kane” name alive in

the competition. The competition is administered by

Prof. Nicholas Truncale ’06 with the engineering expertise

of our lab equipment manager, Mr. Majid Mokhtari ‘15.

A team from Berwick High School took first place in the 2017

Kane Competition and took home the perpetual trophy. The

team was coached by Mr. Matthew Shrader.

2016-2017 Hayes Family Equipment Donation

With this year’s equipment donation fund from Ed ’61 and

Margaret Hayes, the Physics/EE faculty will utilize part of

the funds on a new Electronics Student Makerspace: In

one of our labs, we will create a student electronics

stockroom/makerspace where any of our department students

can access electronics parts, components, supplies, utilize

soldering workstations, microcontrollers, etc. The idea of

makerspaces has been very popular recently. Our

makerspace will give our students the opportunity to

experiment with building things outside the classroom and

spark their creativity.

Department of Physics and Electrical Engineering 2017

Page 3

Student Internships and REUs Summer 2017

Nicholas Constantinou ‘20 – Web Developer Intern,

Cresco Data, Singapore

Madison Ashby ‘19 – Intern, C&S Companies, Syracuse

NY and San Diego, CA

Daniel D’Agostini ‘19 – US Marine Corp Officer

Candidate, Quantico, VA, Flight Training

Joseph Delmar ‘19 – REU University of Arkansas

James Flynn ‘19 – Technician, Reading Technologies,

Reading, PA

Shawn Foy ‘19 – Apprentice Electrician, Five Star Electric,

NYC

Joshua Toth ‘20 – Research Intern, Geisinger

Commonwealth School of Medicine, Scranton, PA

Tara Hambrose ‘18 – Sustainability Intern, University oF

Scranton Office of Sustainability

John Bowers ‘18 – Electrical Engineering Intern, Aviation

Development Team at CH2M, Philadelphia, PA

Nicholas Chaump ‘18 – Engineering Intern, Lockheed

Martin, King of Prussia, PA

George Ebeid ‘18– Engineering Pathways Program,

Tobyhanna Army Depot, Tobyhanna, PA

Matthew Reynolds ‘18 – Research Internship, The

Rockefeller University, NYC

Nicholas DePierro ‘18 – Radar Systems Intern, BAE

Systems, Wayne, NJ

Alexander Pinarreta ‘18 – IT Technician, Massachusetts

Governor’s Office, Massachusetts Department of

Transportation, Boston, MA

Zachary Black ‘18 – Intern, Pride Mobility Products

Corporation, Duryea, PA

Brian Kohler ‘18 – Intern, Buchart Horn Inc., Marlton, NJ

Highlight

Sophomore EE, Peter Kulick ’19

Quality Engineering Intern, Crestron Electronics - Summer 2017

Peter will be interning at

Crestron Electronics in

Rockleigh, New Jersey. Peter

is a University of Scranton

Presidential Scholar and was

the 2016-2017 SAC Advisor

responsible for organizing and

planning this year’s student

participation in the Region 2

IEEE SAC. Much of this

year’s success can be attributed

to the work Peter contributed to

the Scranton IEEE!

Graduating Senior Highlights

Graduating seniors shown from left to right: Richard

Olechna, Matt Collier, Bradley Hodousek, and

Christopher Gasper with their 2nd place Micromouse

Scratch Award at the 2017 IEEE Region 2 SAC. Sara Gleco - Biophysics, Class of ‘17

North Carolina State University - Raleigh, North Carolina

PhD Program in Material Sciences and Engineering

specializing in Biomaterials

Richard Olechna - Electrical Engineering, Class of ‘17

ON Semiconductor - Mountain Top , PA

Electrical Engineer Technician

Christian Johnson – Electrical Engineering, Class of ‘17

Army Signal Branch - Fort Gordon, Georgia

Basic Officer’s :Leadership Course

Matt Collier - Electrical Engineering, Class of ‘17

Tobyhanna Army Depot, Tobyhanna PA

Electrical Engineer

Karissa Barbarevech – Biophysics and EE, Class of ‘17

Drexel University - Philadelphia, PA

Accepted to Drexel Medical School

Christopher Gasper – Electrical Engineering, Class of ‘17

Lockheed Martin - Owego, NY

Electrical Engineer Associate

Department of Physics and Electrical Engineering 2017

Page 4

Undergraduate Research Projects

Tunneling and thermionic currents in Graphene

/semiconductor Schottky diodes

George Ebeid ‘18 – Advisor: Dr. AC Varonides The extra ordinary properties of Graphene (e.g. high electron

mobility current density on SiO2/Si junctions, high

mechanical strength, and high melting point) make it an

excellent material for Graphene-based Schottky-Barrier

diodes (G/SB). In such junctions, graphene mono-layers

replace the metal forming G/semiconductor interfaces with

several carrier transport mechanisms. In this project, we

reviewed Schottky junctions and described two carrier-

transport mechanisms: tunneling and thermionic emission

through potential barriers formed at the junction between

graphene and n-type semiconductors.

Designing and Building a Watt Balance to find an

Adjustment for Plank’s Constant

Matthew Anzelmi ‘17– Advisor: Dr. Juan D. Serna The watt balance is a relatively new instrument, which is

currently being developed to redefine Planck's constant, and,

in turn, redefine the kilogram in terms of the new fixed value

of the constant. The scientists at the National Institute of

Standards and Technology (NIST) have been designing and

testing one of these balances for this purpose, and have

measured Planck’s constant to 6 significant digits. The goal

of this project was to design and build one of these balances

based on various methods and designs previously

implemented. Specifically chosen magnets and coil designs

were used to optimize voltage and current output readings to

reduce overall error normally present during the operation of

these instruments. The final product is meant to be designed

in such a way that it is suitable for use in a modern physics

laboratory setting, while also being cost-efficient enough to

be built by any university student. Accompanying the

balance, I wrote programs that assist the user with data

acquisition and calibration control with an Arduino

microcontroller.

Mrs. Laurie McCoy, Tara Hambrose ’18, Mr. Majid

Mokhtari ’15, and Dr. Christine Zakzewski at the 2017

Kane Competition.

Emission and Absorption Spectral

Analysis of Rocket Fuel

Natalie Krupka ’20 – Advisor: Prof. Nicholas P. Truncale To observe the emission and absorption spectrum of rocket fuel,

we will be using a PASCO spectrometer in two ways: known

light absorption spectrum comparison with a liquid sample in a

cuvette and direct light collection through a fiber optic cable.

The spectrometer has an input, which allows one to place a

liquid sample in a cuvette and measure the absorbed light of that

substance. Light from a tungsten source passes through the

samples in the cuvette and a high diffraction grating to detect

the light that makes it through. Whatever light does not make

it through, must be absorbed by that substance in the cuvette.

This allows the production of the absorption spectra of the

substance. The fiber optic cable captures light through a narrow

slit and passed that light directly through a high diffraction

grating allowing the spectrometer to show the emission

spectrum of the source. Using these two methods, I hope to be

able to determine the elements in rocket fuel.

Matthews Owens and Natalie Krupka with their posters at the

University of Scranton’s Office of Research and Sponsored

Programs Celebration of Student Scholars, May 2017.

Rocket Launch and Orbit Simulation using Python

Matthew Owens ‘17 – Advisor: Prof. Nicholas P. Truncale

The purpose of this project is a to create a two-dimensional

simulation of rocket launches and orbits that makes it possible

to both replicate real launches and see the results of changes in

various parameters of the launch vehicle and flight path. We

started by creating a simulation of Newton’s Cannonball

thought experiment and proceeded by adding other forces

acting on the spacecraft individually (air resistance, thrust,

etc). The simulation calculates the rocket’s two-dimensional

position over a set number of discrete time steps and plots the

orbital path of travel in the (x,y) plane.

Department of Physics and Electrical Engineering 2017

Page 5

Undergraduate Research Projects Generation of Multi-Scroll Attractors Using Fractal

Network Processes Joseph Delmar ‘19 – Advisor: Dr. Juan D. Serna

Over the past years, chaos control has become a very active

area of research in nonlinear dynamics, as it has shown its

potential in applied areas of science such as biomedical

engineering, digital data encryption, image processing, and

power systems protection. Different control methods have

been used to generate and study the dynamics of

hyperchaotic structures characterized by the evolution of

chaotic attractors and resulting in intricate patterns. In this

project, we study a novel technique used to generate multi-

scroll and multi-wing chaotic attractors based on fractal

network processes. In particular, we examine the evolution

of a multi-scroll Chua's attractor produced by multiple

iterations of a Julia fractal algorithm.

An Atomic Force Microscope Investigation into the Effect

of Antibiotics on the Strength of Ant Cuticles

Joshua Toth ‘20 – Advisor: Dr. Robert A. Spalletta

The strength of ant cuticles is altered by exposure to

antibiotics. The definition of hardness in biological

systems, where structural changes can range from the

macroscopic to the molecular, is not clearly defined. This

investigation uses an AFM to study the topology of a

portion of the cuticle from an ant thorax. This is the first

report of topology that includes features in the range from

10 angstroms to 25 microns. Preliminary studies show that

the cuticle is made up of thin plates (Approximately 100nm

thick) with a surface area of order 10 square microns.

These studies do not show a statistical difference between

the plate topology of treated and untreated ants. These

studies do show a statistical difference between the

roughness of the plates between the two groups, as detected

by lateral force measurements with the AFM.

Understanding the Magic of the Bicycle

December 2016 Dr. Joseph W. Connolly ‘68 recently

published a book on the physics of the

bicycle offering basic explanations to the

“Two-Wheeler’s Fascinating Behavior”

through the use of introductory physics

topics. Taken from the promotional flyer

for the book: “The bicycle is a common, yet unique

mechanical contraption in our world. In spite of this, the

bike’s physical and mechanical principles are understood

by a select few. You do not have to be a genius to join this

small group of people who understand the physics of

cycling. This is your guide to fundamental

principles (such as Newton’s laws) and

the book provides intuitive, basic

explanations for the bicycle’s behavior.

Each concept is introduced and illustrated

with simple, everyday examples.

Although cycling is viewed by most as a

fun activity and almost everyone acquires

the basic skills at a young age, few

understand the laws of nature that give magic to the ride.

This is a closer look at some of these fun, exhilarating, and

magical aspects of cycling”.

-Morgan & Claypool Publishers

The book can be purchased from the publisher at the link

below, with a free chapter example. Use the “authorcoll”

code for an additional 15% off. Magic of the Bicycle

The book can also be found on Amazon for purchase as

both a hardcopy and an e-book: E-Book from Amazon

Graduating seniors with Dr. Zakzewski at our annual end of the

year Celebration on May 10th, 2017 at Kildare’s Irish Pub.

Page 6

Department of Physics and Electrical Engineering 2017

University of Scranton Goldwater Scholar is Model Scientist of the

Future May 8th, 2017

Excerpts Taken, with permission, from a University of Scranton Press Release: Reynolds Receives Goldwater Scholarship

The University of

Scranton’s Matthew

Reynolds, became the 12th

Scranton student in 15

years to earn a prestigious

Barry M. Goldwater

Scholarship, the premier

undergraduate scholarship

for the fields of

mathematics, natural

sciences and engineering.

Reynolds, a member of

Scranton’s class of 2018, is

a biology and biophysics double major with minors in

mathematics and computer science and a member of the

University’s undergraduate Honors Program.

Reynolds, of Apalachin, New York, was among just

240 students from 157 colleges in the nation to earn a

Goldwater Scholarship for the 2017-18 academic year. He

is one of only six students from Jesuit universities to be

awarded a Goldwater Scholarship this year. Reynolds takes

a pioneering approach to research, applying his studies

across the disciplines of biology, physics, mathematics, and

computer science for scientific discovery.

Reynolds has already developed software for image

processing and analysis for biological applications that are

available to University students for the cellular biology lab,

where he serves as a undergraduate teaching assistant. He

has also written software programs for his own research.

A full-tuition Presidential Scholarship recipient at

Scranton, Reynolds is a member of Alpha Sigma Nu, the

national Jesuit honor society; Sigma Pi Sigma, national

physics honor society for physics; and IEEE’s (Institute for

Electrical and Electronic Engineers) Eta Kappa Nu honor

society. He has served as a peer tutor for general chemistry

and cellular biology at the University’s Center for Teaching

and Learning Excellence. A member of the biology club,

chemistry club and IEEE, Reynolds is a staff writer for The

Alumni Highlight

Caitlin DeMarest M.D., Ph.D, a 2008 Biophysics

graduate of the department, recently completed her Ph.D in

Biomedical Engineering from Carnegie Mellon with the

thesis “Prolonging the Useful Lifetime of Artificial Lungs”.

Already completing medical school at New York Medical

College, Caitlin was in her third year of a surgical residency

at Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center in

New York City when she decided to accept an offer at

Carnegie Mellon to pursue her Ph.D. Along with her

family, she will move back to New York City to continue

her surgical residency at Columbia and eventually begin a

2-year fellowship in Thoracic Surgery.

ABET Industrial Advisory Board Meeting and ABET Team Visit

Our ABET accreditation team visit will occur in the Fall

2017 semester along with an Industrial Advisory Board

Meeting to discuss the visit and other department items.

Department of Physics and Electrical Engineering 2017

Nancy Laffey, Dr. Berger, Dr. Spalletta, Dr. Brian

Conniff - Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, and

Computer Science Professor Emeritus Dennis Martin,

Consultant to the department on ABET accreditation.

NEXT IAB MEETING:

6:00 pm - Friday October 27th, 2017

Brennan Hall 5th Floor

Page 7

Aquinas, the University’s student newspaper, and served as

its science and technology editor for 2014-2015.

Dr. W. Andrew

Berger

Department Chair

Dr. Joseph W. Connolly Retires

wandrew.berger@scranton.edu

Dr. Paul

Fahey

paul.fahey@scranton.edu declan.mulhall@scranton.edu

Dr. Declan

Mulhall

Dr. Juan

Serna

juan.serna@scranton.edu

Dr. Robert

Spalletta

robert.spalletta@scranton.edu nicholas.truncale@scranton.edu

Prof. Nicholas

Truncale

argyrios.varonides@scranton.edu

Dr. Argyrios

Varonides

Mrs. Laurie

McCoy

Admin.

Assistant

laurie.mccoy@scranton.edu

Mr. Majid

Mokhtari

Lab Equip.

Manager

majid.mokhtari@scranton.edu christine.zakzewski@scranton.edu

Dr. Christine

Zakzewski

Department

Chair

Thank you for reading our 2016-2017 Physics/EE

newsletter! Feel free to contact any of us at any time!

Department of Physics and Electrical Engineering 2017

Dr. Connolly’s career includes teaching close to

four dozen different courses over five decades.

Additionally, he served in the United States Army,

Signal Corps. Some of his other professional

activities include many years in industry and two

decades of industrial consulting in computer aided

design and digital image processing. Some of his

future plans include the development of a book on

the use of MATLAB for digital image processing.

He will also spend time playing with his

grandchildren, woodworking, and riding his many

bicycles.

Thank you for your years of service, Joe!

Department of Physics and Electrical Engineering 2017

Page 8

A BIG thank you to Dr. Zakzewski for serving 10 years as chair

of the department. Your unwavering leadership in the

department helped us grow and improve over the years.